{"id":831563,"date":"2026-07-28T14:47:12","date_gmt":"2026-07-28T14:47:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/831563\/"},"modified":"2026-07-28T14:47:12","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T14:47:12","slug":"winnipeg-jets-prospect-alfons-freij-leaving-shl-early-to-begin-north-american-career-illegal-curve-hockey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/831563\/","title":{"rendered":"Winnipeg Jets prospect Alfons Freij leaving SHL early to begin North American career \u2013 Illegal Curve Hockey"},"content":{"rendered":"

Another Winnipeg Jets prospect will be heading to North America earlier than expected as 2024 second-round pick Alfons Freij is leaving the SHL despite having two seasons remaining on his contract with Timr\u00e5 to begin the next stage of his professional career.<\/p>\n

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Photo Credit: Colby Spence (Illegal Curve)<\/p>\n

It was a busy 2025-26 season for the smooth-skating defenceman, who won World Junior gold with Sweden alongside fellow Jets prospect Sascha Boumedienne while also playing 42 games in the SHL with Timr\u00e5. After a slow start from a production perspective, Freij finished strong, recording six goals and three assists over his final 10 games. He then joined the Manitoba Moose, playing five regular-season games for the Jets\u2019 AHL affiliate and recording one assist.<\/p>\n

The expectation was for Freij to return to Sweden this season and continue playing for Timr\u00e5. Hockeysverige\u2019s Martin Jansson was first to report that Freij\u2019s time in Sweden had come to an end, a report that Illegal Curve has independently confirmed. The 2024 second-round pick will head to Winnipeg later this summer for the 2026-27 season to begin his North American pro career.<\/p>\n

Speaking with Hockeysverige<\/a>, Freij explained (via Google Translate) that the original plan was for him to spend another season in the SHL before things changed course following conversations with the Jets during development camp.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe idea was that I would stay for another year and get ready in Timr\u00e5. I had two years on the contract and the idea was to stay and I was set on it. Then I came over to dev. camp and had a meeting with the GM and coach and stuff like that. They were clear that they wanted me to play over there. That it\u2019s best for me to reach my goals and my dreams. You can\u2019t say no to that and it will be good.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Freij will have an opportunity to compete for a spot with the Jets during training camp, the expectation is that he will begin the season with the Manitoba Moose. The move will give the 20-year-old defenceman the chance to continue his development against North American competition after spending the previous two seasons playing professionally in Sweden.<\/p>\n

As Martin reported he will continue to train with Timr\u00e5 and he was even featured in the video they released as guys arrived to start their summer training together.<\/p>\n

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Freij\u2019s arrival continues a trend this summer of prospects making the move to North America earlier than expected, as 2026 first-round pick Viggo Bj\u00f6rck will also be leaving Sweden this summer<\/a> to join the Jets organization. With Freij joining Bj\u00f6rck and other Swedish prospects in the system, it may be time for Jets fans to start learning Swedish.<\/p>\n

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